It’s lastly WrestleMania week, and I couldn’t be extra fired up. The Royal Rumble could be my favourite PLE of the 12 months, however WrestleMania is, with out query, an important. At any time when somebody who’s not into skilled wrestling asks me to elucidate what it’s all about, I all the time use ‘Mania as a place to begin. It’s the one occasion each single individual is at the least vaguely conscious of, and in very sensible tv phrases, it really works just like the season finale.
A 12 months’s value of characters, storylines and builds are, in principle, speculated to repay at WrestleMania. It’s the present that brings decision to what we’ve already watched and lets us know who the principle characters are going to be transferring ahead. In a extra particular manner solely wrestling followers perceive, it’s additionally simply actually significant. It’s a giant deal to even make the cardboard, and all the pieces you do at a ‘Mania counts. It’ll be re-watched and remembered for many years to return.
This 12 months will probably be no exception. After many years within the enterprise, enjoying the most well-liked good man nearly the whole time, John Cena has lastly been given the prospect to play a heel, and he’s taken full benefit of it in his feud with WWE’s prime child face Cody Rhodes. They’ll shut evening two of the present, however past that, there are a ton of different enormous names on the cardboard together with Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, Drew McIntyre, Iyo Sky, Charlotte Aptitude, Gunther and extra.
Earlier than I get into what I believe goes to occur, although, you possibly can check out my monitor document predicting WrestleManias, in addition to my general document, as I’ve predicted each single WWE Premium Stay Occasion for the final three years.
|
Occasion |
Wins |
Losses |
|
Mania 38 |
11 |
4 |
|
Mania 39 |
7 |
6 |
|
Mania 40 |
9 |
3 |
|
Total Report |
167 |
56 |
The Warfare Raiders (Champions) Vs The New Day For The World Tag Group Championships
I don’t know what Triple H is doing right here. I believe followers on Twitter, with just a few exceptions, have been a bit too detrimental about this 12 months’s WrestleMania construct, however that is one program that I believe everybody must be criticizing. The New Day have been white scorching once they first turned heel. The section the place they kicked Huge E out was probably the greatest promos we’ve gotten in a very long time, however then the writers waited manner too lengthy to truly do something with them. They only had them give the identical generic heel promo each week and even bizarrely had them lose some matches. Now they’re making an attempt to warmth them again up, however the spark simply isn’t the identical.
That being mentioned, The Warfare Raiders are among the many greatest in-ring tag workforce staff on the whole WWE roster, and The New Day are future first poll Corridor of Famers. This match can and may nonetheless cook dinner. I predict the group will probably be extremely popular for it by the top, with two attainable outcomes. Both The New Day will cheat to turn out to be tag workforce champs once more, or they’ll lose the match on account of interference from Huge E. I’m going to go along with the previous, however preserve your eyes open for the latter.
Predicted Winners: The New Day
Rey Mysterio Vs El Grande Americano
In a extremely silly but in addition wonderful manner, this match is an ideal encapsulation of what skilled wrestling is all about. Rey Mysterio is a WWE Corridor of Famer and arguably probably the most well-known luchador of all-time, at the least in America. In an effort to beat him, WWE mid-carder Chad Gable disappeared for a number of weeks, then returned as a masked luchador named El Grande Americano. He swears he’s not Chad Gable however is as a substitute a completely completely different wrestler who has gained each championship there’s to win in Mexico.
In current weeks, many WWE legends have tweeted about how unfair it’s that El Grande Americano has a match and Chad Gable doesn’t. A current crowd even gave us an all-time chant the place half the folks screamed that’s Chad Gable and the opposite half screamed no he’s not. The entire thing is past regular ranges of silly but in addition completely excellent in a extremely particular skilled wrestling manner.
Anyway, Rey Mysterio goes to win this. Afterwards, I believe he’ll unmask El Grande Americano on the finish, and we’ll simply have to attend and see who’s beneath there. It’s clearly gonna be Chad Gable, besides, after all, if it’s not.
Predicted Winner: Rey Mysterio.
Jade Cargill Vs Naomi
It’s been a very long time since we’ve gotten a non-title ladies’s singles match on the ‘Mania card, however this one has greater than earned its spot because of a very good story that’s constructed slowly over the past 12 months and a few significantly robust character work, particularly from Naomi. At ‘Mania 40, Cargill, Naomi and Bianca Belair all teamed collectively for a dominant victory over Injury CTRL. Within the time since, they’ve informed a narrative of friendship and betrayal, during which each ladies individually teamed with good friend Bianca Belair to win the tag workforce titles and a jealousy naturally grew from that, resulting in Naomi ultimately attacking Jade.
I believe Jade will win this match. She’s been introduced as a dominant, predominant occasion expertise since she arrived in WWE. In reality, you might say she’s been one of the protected superstars on the roster. A loss right here would actually harm her standing, whereas it could solely give Naomi extra gasoline to develop her bitter, resentful heel that’s actually helped break her out over the previous few months. In reality, I believe WWE will strongly take into account her when Cash In The Financial institution rolls round for a attainable victory there.
Predicted Winner: Jade Cargill
LA Knight (Champ) Vs Jacob Fatu For America Championship
What occurs on this match solely is dependent upon what WWE needs to do with Jacob Fatu. Whether or not followers prefer it or not, Triple H and firm appear to view LA Knight as an higher mid-carder, the kind of famous person who cleans up towards a lot of the roster however loses World Title stage matches to the precise predominant eventers. So, win, lose or draw, he’ll proceed dropping mid-carders on their heads and giving ‘em three the laborious manner.
Jacob Fatu, nevertheless, is sort of definitely going to be in the principle occasion image sooner quite than later. Regardless of being a heel, the group clearly buzzes each time he involves the ring. He’s simply bought an aura about him, and lots of followers and observers take into account him a future WrestleMania predominant eventer. So, what does WWE need to do with that? They’ll have him beat LA Knight right here and go on an prolonged run with America Championship the place he, assumedly, appears to be like actually dominant towards a lot of the roster, or they might have him lose in some underhanded manner that helps him launch into his subsequent feud. Most probably that may be by way of a botched interference try by his Bloodline mate Solo Sikoa.
Finally, I believe they’re in all probability going to need him to win his first WrestleMania match and get his first style of singles gold. So, I’m going to go along with that. A loss is certainly attainable although, but when it occurs, count on it to be a loss that also retains him wanting actually robust.
Predicted Winner: Jacob Fatu
Tiffany Stratton (Champion) Vs Charlotte Aptitude For The WWE Girls’s Championship
Let’s simply rip the band-aid off right here. The construct to this match has been a catastrophe. It’s unattainable to know as a fan with no backstage connections precisely what’s been happening, however from my vantage level, it looks as if Charlotte Aptitude deliberately tried to make Tiffany Stratton look dangerous on a number of events by going off script and stepping on her huge strains till Stratton bought sick of it and hit her again on stay tv with just a few actually private insults.
All that mess has added a bit buzz and pleasure to the match, nevertheless it’s additionally made each of the ladies look dangerous. Aptitude has come off, at the least to me, as unprofessional and unwilling to assist one of many youngest ladies on the roster, and Tiffy has come off, at the least to me, like somebody inexperienced who was made World Champion earlier than she was prepared. There’s been no winner.
I don’t know what to anticipate on Saturday. Stratton and Aptitude and two of the very best staff on the whole roster. So, there’s an opportunity they’ll lastly work collectively and ship an all-time implausible match, or there’s an opportunity they’ll simply preserve making an attempt to point out one another up and it’ll be a catastrophe. It may go both manner, as may the end result. I initially thought WWE would have Aptitude put over Stratton to provide her an enormous win on a giant stage and sign to the viewers that they’re constructing round her, however she hasn’t seemed prepared for the second previously a number of weeks, stumbling over her phrases and seeming out of types. Would WWE actually reward Charlotte for what’s occurred right here although? That doesn’t really feel like the fitting message to ship to the veterans within the locker room.
Predicted Winner: Tiffy Time
Gunther (Champion) Vs Jey Uso For The World Heavyweight Championship
Gunther might be my favourite wrestler on the whole roster. He’s completely implausible, and his promo this week on Uncooked actually confirmed why he’s a future Corridor of Famer. I might like to see him win right here and actually cement his legacy as an all-time villain, able to stepping on any babyface, regardless of how over they’re with the group. However what occurs to Jey Uso if he loses in one other huge second?
WWE has invested a ton in Jey Uso and on this story. He gained maybe probably the most stacked Royal Rumble in historical past. After followers weren’t totally getting on board together with his program, they let Gunther beat down his brother Jimmy, to the purpose the place he’s not getting used at WrestleMania in an effort to try to construct sympathy. They’ve given him personalised entrances and important time on nearly each episode of Uncooked for months.
That’s paid off in enormous merchandise gross sales and quite a lot of YEET chants, but when he loses right here, it’s nearly definitely going to cease quite a lot of his momentum. He’s going to be thrown again all the way down to the mid-card and doubtless find yourself again in a tag workforce together with his brother. That’s removed from the worst factor on this planet, however there’s all the time time to try this later. If he’s going to make a singles run, it must be now, which is why he’s nearly definitely going to win.
Predicted Winner: Jey Uso
Roman Reigns Vs CM Punk Vs Seth Rollins
Followers are divided as to how efficient the construct for this custody of Paul Heyman match has been, however you definitely can’t deny the star energy. These three would all fairly simply match right into a prime ten of wrestlers who’ve most outlined the post-Perspective Period, they usually all share loads of skilled connections and private life overlap.
You might make a case for why all three of those guys ought to emerge victorious right here, however I believe the very best case belongs to Seth Rollins. He’s loads much less concerned within the Paul Heyman stuff than the opposite two, and he may actually use a win on a giant stage like this. He spent all of final 12 months’s WrestleMania placing different folks over, regardless of being injured, and if CM Punk and Roman Reigns are going to proceed feuding collectively, it could take advantage of sense for him to be the one to flee with a win.
Predicted Winner: Seth Rollins
Liv Morgan And Raquel Rodriguez (Champions) Vs Bayley And Lyra Valkyria For The WWE Girls’s Tag Group Championship
It feels just like the long-term story right here is Bayley and Lyra Valkyria feuding over the Girls’s Intercontinental Championship, not these groups feuding over the Girls’s Tag Group Championship. We noticed Bayley waffle on whether or not or to not shake Lyra’s hand when she misplaced just a few weeks in the past, and whereas they teamed within the ring fairly nicely collectively throughout the gauntlet match, it’s laborious to suppose that’s not going to return into play sooner or later.
Plus, I don’t actually see any purpose why Judgment Day ought to lose right here. There’s a very good probability both Dom or Finn goes to win the Males’s Intercontinental Championship, and if certainly one of them does, that plus these belts may actually solidify Judgment Day transferring again into prominence with out Rhea Ripley or Damian Priest.
Predicted Winner: Liv & Raquel
AJ Kinds Vs Logan Paul
I’m nonetheless not likely positive what story these two try to inform. The announcers and Karrion Kross appear to be telling us the story is concerning the soul of wrestling, however AJ Kinds and Logan Paul haven’t actually gotten into {that a} ton of the microphone. As a substitute, it’s largely appeared like a showcase match, however given the expertise stage of those two, that’s completely positive. Kinds is arguably the very best in-ring employee of his technology, and Paul has confirmed again and again that he can actually carry out on a giant stage.
As a result of there’s actually not a ton of story right here, it makes this match uniquely tough to foretell. Paul is clearly on the upswing of his profession, whereas Kinds doesn’t have a ton of WrestleManias left. That might work in both man’s favor although, as you possibly can see Kinds placing Paul over to assist develop his profession, or you possibly can see Paul laying on his again for a hero who deserves one other huge WrestleMania second. I’m going to go along with AJ Kinds as a result of it feels prefer it’s been ceaselessly since he bought a giant win like this, however I’m not assured.
Predicted Winner: AJ Kinds
Bron Breakker (Champion) Vs Penta Vs Dominik Mysterio Vs Finn Bálor For The Intercontinental Championship
You’ll be able to’t rule any of those 4 out. Usually in a multi-man match like this, there are just a few people who find themselves fairly clearly not profitable, however that’s not the case right here. Bron has seemed unstoppable since profitable again his Intercontinental Championship and is broadly considered the younger star with the brightest future in WWE. Penta is certainly one of WWE’s hottest characters proper now and getting star remedy, and it looks as if WWE actually needs to reenergize Judgment Day, which suggests a win for both Mysterio or Bálor is on the desk. It may even result in the 2 of them feuding with one another, which would offer quite a lot of tales for WWE to discover within the coming months.
I’m going to go along with Dominik Mysterio. It’s in all probability as a result of I want to see him rewarded for all the good heel work he’s accomplished over the previous few years, however past that, I additionally suppose a title may actually take his character to a different stage. He’s by no means going to be a dominant champion like Gunther and even Bron Breakker, nevertheless it’s straightforward to think about a state of affairs during which he cheated to win and picked up a ton of victories over the subsequent a number of months. That might solely improve the generational warmth already on him, and that would assist flip WWE’s most dependable mid-card character right into a star.
Predicted Winner: Dominik Mysterio
Damian Priest Vs Drew McIntyre
I’m an enormous Damian Priest man. I felt like he was a future World Champion the day he moved to the principle roster, and I’ve been stoked to see how his profession has gone up to now. His money in on Drew McIntyre final 12 months was my single favourite second of WrestleMania 40. He’s my man, and this match isn’t going to vary that.
However Drew McIntyre must win right here. He’s able to being the most important star in the whole firm, and his work over the past 12 months or two has been the very best of his profession. I believe he may be WWE Champion once more and actually give us a memorable title reign. That begins with beating Priest right here. Don’t get me improper. I hope the match is de facto aggressive and each males come out wanting implausible, however the result’s apparent. McIntyre must win a feud and begin constructing momentum.
Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre
Iyo Sky (Champion) Vs Rhea Ripley Vs Bianca Belair For The Girls’s World Championship
That is probably the most unpredictable match on the whole card for my part. You might simply take a look at this and say they’re going to inform the oldest triple risk story within the e book. Rhea and Bianca are going to give attention to one another, and that’ll enable Iyo to sneak in and declare victory whereas they’re distracted. That’s definitely attainable.
You might additionally say Bianca goes to win this, given she has an amazing WrestleMania undefeated streak going, which the corporate may actually flip into one thing down the street, and there’s an attractive alternative to show her heel, given she’s been booed all through this program regardless of being a child face. She may additionally slide proper from this right into a feud with Jade Cargill, which might be a giant cash alternative for WWE to placed on some title matches.
Or you might simply say Rhea goes to win this on account of her being the most important feminine star within the historical past of the wrestling enterprise. She’s been behaving like a heel throughout the whole feud, and the followers nonetheless cheer her at each flip as a result of she’s a breakout star. You’ll be able to’t blame WWE for wanting to place the belt on the most important identify within the division. Hulk Hogan, John Cena and others spent bigger elements of their profession as champ for that precise purpose.
I’m going to go along with Bianca as a result of I actually like retaining the streak in tact, however my confidence stage isn’t very excessive right here.
Predicted Winner: Bianca Belair
Cody Rhodes (Champion) Vs John Cena For The WWE Championship
There are a good variety of followers who suppose Cody Rhodes goes to take this, however I simply don’t see that. John Cena simply gave us one of many greatest and most stunning heel turns within the historical past of the wrestling enterprise. With a view to preserve his momentum going, he must win right here. If he does all that and loses, he’s going to seem like a idiot, and I’m unsure he has sufficient appearances left this 12 months to actually get that momentum again.
I’m positive it’s going to be by way of dishonest. I’m positive it’s going to be by way of underhanded ways, however I might be shocked if John Cena didn’t stroll out of WrestleMania as a champion. That might additionally enable him to interrupt Ric Aptitude’s document for World Championships and provides WWE a ton of actually enjoyable tales to inform for the remainder of the 12 months. Cena profitable right here is the plain play, and I can’t wait to see it occur.
Predicted Winner: John Cena